Peace and Joy to All this Season

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Our Magical Trip

How does one begin writing again when it has been so long?  Do I condense two months of fullness into one blog post?  Or perhaps, I re-start and introduce myself anew.  There have been so many times when I have wanted to sit down and record the amazing things that are happening around me. But life is moving so quickly right now that I have had to set my writing on the back burner.  Sometimes I wish I had a special camera that would turn our stories into writing for me.  You know, one that would sort of record life exactly as it was happening, on paper?  But I digress...

Now that Thanksgiving has gone by, (but thankfulness remains) I can put into motion preparations for Christmas.  My husband came home Tuesday and decided it was time to put up the tree.  It was a joy to watch him work with the kids to put it all together and decorate it.  (Yes, we have a fake tree.)  This weekend all I have to do is put out a few more decorations around the house and we'll be good to go!


Our Beautiful Tree

Speaking of decorations, I don't think I could forgive myself if I didn't at least record a little blurb about our trip to Disneyland this month.  We spent 7 wonderful days in beautiful CA the second week of November.  LR got to spend her 8th birthday at California Adventure. :)  We spent two days there, one day at Universal Studios, and two days at Disneyland.  (With one down day to rest and recoup in the middle.)  They start putting up Christmas decorations at all the parks there Nov. 1, and it is BEAUTIFUL!  They also have the Christmas parade at Disneyland every evening. Plus, they turn the Princess Castle into an ice castle at night and then it snows down Main Street! The kids LOVED that!


It really was a magical trip.  The kids' Nana, an Aunt, and an Uncle all came along for the ride and it was pure fun.  We've been saving up for this trip for three years now so that we could pay cash for everything.  I have to say, it was worth the wait!  Our kids were all at the perfect ages.  They range from 6-11 and they all had a blast.  Even our youngest only had a couple of rides he couldn't go on and he was a trooper to go on all the "big kid" rides with us.  It was worth the trip just to see their reactions to their first time flying. 

I could go on and on, but AMAZING pretty much sums it all up in a nutshell.

Well, I should be going for now.  I've got lots of things on my to-do list.  I hope I'll be able to get back to blogging more again, but I make no promises.  Funny, when my kids were small I used to think I'd have MORE time when they were all in school.  It doesn't seem to have worked out that way, but it sure is fun! 

Have a blessed weekend!
-Melissa 

Humor Matters

Hello everyone!  Happy Early New Year!  I hope that everyone had a marvelous Christmas.  Our home was filled with family and we had a great time making memories together laughing, opening presents, sharing meals and playing games.  I really enjoy having a nice big home that we can offer up for family events.

Christmas Eve we went to a candle-light service at my in-law's church.  Afterwards we spent time at their home for an informal dinner.  We arrived home at 9:00pm and tucked the kids into bed because we knew it was going to be a long day.  Before doing so, I wanted a picture by the tree with our "best dress" on.  I handed my brother in law the camera and hoped for the best.  Everyone was tired so they kind of just cooperated "for mom."  We got at least one that was decent, but there's one that stands out from the rest as my favorite.  It really shows the light-hearted nature of our family.  We sure do love to laugh!

From our home to yours, wishing you all joy, love and laughter in the year 2012!

~Melissa

Very Merry Christmas Cookies

To start of our Winter break, we made Christmas Cookies on Saturday!  Everyone got to help with the fun.  DH mixed and rolled out the dough.  The kids took turns with the cookie cutters making fun shapes.  (We even have an Easter bunny or two in there.)  Then when they cooled we frosted and decorated them.  There ended up being plenty to share with neighbors, employees, and the girls at the bank!  As for the rest...well, I'm sure we'll figure out something!

Plans Delayed

I should be in my new house by now.  I understand that paperwork doesn't always go through when it's supposed to.  These things happen in Real Estate.  That much I know from when my husband was a Realtor.  Still, that drags our move out for another week, and here I sit with boxes and furniture piled up ready to be moved.  Though we were all disappointed, we weren't about to let this delay ruin our weekend.

Father's Day weekend was full of fun and laughter.  We didn't go anywhere, but just hung out at home, watched the Mariners, played some games, and ate Pizza on Saturday and BBQ on Sunday.  We had company over yesterday for the last time in this house.  They are such good friends and we will miss their family most of all when we move.  They are helping us move though, so they will also be our first company in our new house next weekend! :) 

This week I am planning easy meals and trying to keep life simple.  The older boys are each having over-nighters to say their last goodbyes to their closest friends.  I scheduled BC's annual check up on Wednesday so I can get it out of the way.  Other than that, I will tape up the last of the boxes and hang out with the kids until Saturday finally comes. 

Tomorrow we say goodbye to Spring and bring in Summer.  We're supposed to finally get some warmer weather, so there's lots of outdoor fun to be had!

Next time I post I will probably be in my new home!  Then, the fun of UN-packing begins! 

Mother's Day Photos

A couple of years ago I started a tradition where I take photos with my kids on Mother's Day. One day I will put them all together in an album, but for now, I'm just going to post them here. :) What a fantastic Mother's Day I had! I feel so blessed to have five wonderful children.

RL (Almost 10)

JS (Almost 9)

BC (Almost 8)

LR (6 1/2)

CD (4 1/2)

My Lovely Gifts! :)

Mother's Day Thoughts

This Sunday is Mother's Day and there's been a lot of buzz and hype around here from my school kids about the treasures that they are making for my special day.  I cherish these hand-made gifts that they bring home to me, but there is something I cherish even more.  I wonder, do they know that the gift I cherish most is the honor of being their Mother?  Do I tell them often enough how much they mean to me?  Do they know how much joy I find in caring for them, day in and day out?  My love grows deeper for them with each passing day and every moment that we share together.   So Sunday might be Mother's Day, but I am thankful for the blessing of being a Mother every day!

I am also thankful for the blessing that I have been given in my own Mother.  She has always been there for me.  I remember nights that she stayed up with me and cared for me when I was sick, tears that she wiped away when I was sad, and the many times that she told me that she was proud of me.  I admire her for her strength and love her for the sacrifices she made when my sister and I were growing up.  Now that I am full grown, I cherish the relationship that we have, even across the miles.

I haven't even mentioned all the moms that have had an impact in my life and the way that I mother.  I thank God for the seasoned Moms that have answered the tough questions, and given firm, sound advice.  My Mother in Law is one of those Moms, and I have appreciated the many talks I have had with her over the years about mothering.  I am also grateful for the Moms that are walking through the same seasons I am and nod in understanding when I tell them my greatest fears and concerns.  There are the ones who pray for me when I need it, and even when I do not ask. And of course, there are those that I may never meet in person, but encourage me here on a regular basis.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to everyone who has touched this Mother's life!
~Melissa    

 

Happy New Year and SSMT Verse 1

Happy New Year!

I am so excited to see what God will bring in the year 2011 for this family. We have some change coming around the bend...BIG change. It's wonderful and scary all at the same time but I know that God is in control. I will be sharing more here as the details of the plan unfold in the coming months.

I am also very happy to be participating once again in the Siesta Scripture Memory Team (SSMT) at the Living Proof Live Blog. Twice a month I will be checking in to share my memory verse. That's 24 memory verses in 2011! There will be a special conference with Beth Moore in 2012 for those who participated. (See above link for details.)

Hebrews 4:12 says "For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

May the evidence of this truth shine through in my life in 2011 to my family and those surrounding me!

And with that thought, here's my first memory verse for 2011. It really ties in with a new year, and the new thing that God is doing with our family.

Isaiah 43:19
See I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
And streams in the wasteland.

May you be blessed in 2011!
~Melissa

Company Girl Coffee...A Christmas Service to Remember

Welcome girls! I'm so glad it's Friday. I've been looking forward to today for a while now. You see, my Brother in Law and his girlfriend are in town on leave from Afghanistan and today is girls' day! My Mother in Law is coming into town, and the two of us are going on a surprise trip with Kari. It's her Christmas present to us. The men are going to stay home with CD and pick up the kids from school. Then later this evening we'll join the men for dinner. It should be a great day!

So I'm short on time this morning, but I wanted to quickly share a post from last Christmas. You see, my husband is more than a Worship Pastor. He also programs our services and helps to plan sermon series, special services, videos, songs, etc... He is so good at what he does and I think he is one of the best "story tellers" ever! Last year's Christmas series was amazing. If you're interested, read about it here.

Thanks for stopping in today and I look forward to reading some of your stories this weekend. For now, I'm off to get ready for my "mystery girls' day!"

Blessings to all!
~Melissa

To the Bestest Dad Ever...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to my dear husband and the father of our five wonderful children who absolutely adore him!

He's only been a dad for almost 9 years, but I've loved him for over 16. (Our 16th anniversary is coming up next month.)

For all the wrestling, game playing, disciplining, reading, fort building, library going, pancake making, hot dog grilling and other incredible dad things you do...

WE LOVE YOU!

Enjoy your day! (And your new grill!)

I Heard the Bells...the Story Behind the Song

As I was reading my Advent Devotional this morning, my heart was touched by the story behind the song "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." The song was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Christmas Day, 1863. He wrote it out of heartache and anger.

In 1861, His wife died in a tragic accident. Her gown caught fire one night and she died the next morning. Longfellow was also badly burned in effort to put out the flames. That same year the Civil War broke out. Two years later, his 16 year old son that had run away to join the Civil Army was severely injured in the war and sent home.

Here is the poem that he wrote in his despair:

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

You can see how the sorrow and gloom of the war and the loss of his wife lingers in stanzas two, three, and four.

But he didn't stop there. Catching an eternal perspective and the real message of Christmas and Christ Himself, he wrote two more stanzas:

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Maybe you too, are mourning this Christmas as Longfellow did many years ago. Perhaps you may have a son or daughter in the military that is absent from you, or someone close to you that you have recently lost. Or maybe you just need to feel the peace that comes from celebrating Christ's birth. Whatever your situation, I pray that you will capture the true meaning of Christmas, and hear the bells ringing in your heart "peace on earth, good will to men."

Merry Christmas From our Household to Yours!

My friend recently created this card for us and I thought it was perfect to share here. Thanks, A!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!

Emmanuel, God With Us

For the past 5 weeks our church as been doing a series called "Moments with the Master." It has been all about moments in scripture where different people had life changing encounters with Jesus. We started with the scene of Jesus on the cross, and worked backward to today, the Birth of Jesus. Each week everyone was handed a circle as we walked into the sanctuary, and each week we wrote on them our own moments with the Master and posted them up on the wall.

Today, we were shown how God can take all of our hardships, our prayers, and our brokenness, and turn them into something beautiful. During the message, all of our post-its were transformed into something marvelous. The giant murals were finished and we sang the worship song "God With Us" by Mercy Me. I took a picture, but it hardly captures the moment. Look closely. Can you see the picture of Jesus on one wall, and the star on the other?

Matthew 1:22-23 "Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

'Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.'"

God be with you and bless you this Christmas and in the upcoming year.
~Melissa

A Christmas Surprise

When Rachel asked us to share a Christmas memory this morning over at Home Sanctuary, my mind began spinning with tales of Christmas' past. First I thought of marching through the woods to find the perfect Christmas tree as a child. Years of opening one present on Christmas on Christmas Eve and the anticipation of a stocking filled with little treasures brought a smile to my face. Then there were the Christmas dinners! Oh, we never had a very fancy spread, but you could always count on a full house. Our doors were always open to employees from our store that didn't have anywhere else to go. Never let it be said that there weren't enough seats around our table.

Yes, I have many fond Christmas memories. There is one though, that my thoughts landed on this morning that is very dear to my heart. It was nine years ago, and we were spending Christmas at my in-laws. I had been married to my loving husband for six years by then. It was no secret that we were trying to get pregnant with our first baby at the time, but with much difficulty. In fact, we'd been trying for almost four years with no results. With the support and prayers of family and friends and the help of doctors, we held out hope that one day we would become parents.

I love spending Christmas with my DH's family. They open one gift at a time so that everyone can share in the excitement. We didn't have much money that year, but we did have one gift that we put under the tree for his parents. It was one simple envelope. We were sure to place it way at the back, hidden under all the other gifts and it was marked "Open Me Last."

When my Mother in Law finally held the envelope in her hands, she questioned the mystery of it all. We told her that it was a Christmas surprise. You could feel the suspense in the room and all eyes were on her as she opened it.

In the card was a photo and a note. The note went something like this:

"Dear Mom and Doug, in 7 months you will be a Nana and Papa! We're having a baby!"

The photo was a copy of my first ultrasound. Tears began to roll down my Mother in Law's cheeks as we announced that we were finally pregnant. It was a Christmas miracle and the best gift that year. God had answered our prayers.

RL is 8 years old now, and she has three brothers and a sister! To hear the entire story of my journey into motherhood, you can read this post.

Thanks for letting me share my Christmas memory here. I look forward to reading some of yours also.

May God bless you as we reflect on the story of His birth this Christmas Season.

Thankful Thursday, Thanksgiving Edition

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Today we are together as a family and we are so very thankful for each other and the love that we share. Here is a collective list of some other things that we are also thankful for in our lives.

We are thankful that Uncle Paul is finally home from Afghanistan! :) Welcome home Uncle Paul. We missed you very much.

We are thankful for birthday fun this month. It was a happy birthday for LR on the 11th, Mom on the 22nd, and CD on the 23rd.

We are thankful for the roof over our heads, the food on our plates, and the clothes that we wear.

We are thankful for Max, our dog!

We are thankful for all of our friends.

We are thankful that we have a church to attend and that we have the freedom to worship whenever we want.

We are thankful for books!

We are thankful for school!

We are thankful for all of our toys.

And now we're going to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade together! Have a great Thanksgiving all, from our family to yours!

Happy Mother's Day!

Favorite childhood memory with my mom:
Oh, there are so many to choose from! If I must choose, I would say that the simple activity of spending time with her on our back patio over the years. The memories there begin as a small child playing in the tiny kiddie pool and grow into long talks on lawn chairs over coffee.

Favorite memory thus far with my mother in law:
Having her in the hospital room when my son BC was born. We walked the hallways together until I couldn't handle it anymore. Then she sat quietly talking with my DH until I finally said "ok, it's time to push." She still can't believe I was so calm. :)

Favorite memory as a mom so far:
Holding each of my babies for the first time ever in the hospital room.

I am so blessed to be both a daughter and a mom.
Happy Mother's Day!

-Melissa

Company and Company Girl Coffee

Welcome to Company Girl Coffee! Today I am in much need of a second cup of coffee...or three, or four! Stay for a bit, help yourself, and I'll explain. Once a year I temporarily lose my common sense and behave like I am 20 again. For six years now (I was in my twenties back then) we have been gathering with our friends to celebrate and bring in the New Year together. This year we had a total of 12 adults and 7 children New Year's Eve. We play games and talk as we catch up on each other's lives. It involves a lot of laughter, food, and staying up late. I look forward to it every year, but every year it gets a little harder for this thirty something year old to forfeit her sleep.

Last night I stayed up with the girls playing a silly game and having a ball. It's great to just let loose and laugh with them. The setback is, I'm feeling a little tired today. Staying up late 4 nights in a row is starting to take its toll on me. Go figure. It's the best though. I couldn't think of a more perfect way to start the New Year than to be surrounded by friends and family.

Bringing in the New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

AND HAPPY 100th POST!

Many good wishes for 2009.

Melissa

Fun and Games

Last night the kids eagerly watched out the front window as they waited for their Aunt and two Uncles to arrive. It's quite a site actually, my five little ones lined up on the couch peeking out into the night! It wasn't long before I heard them all exclaiming together "they're here, they're here!" Our company barely made it through the door before being smothered with hugs and kisses from the kids. I love it!

After things settled down and everyone got some dinner, we moved on to presents. Since my DH comes from a big family, they have a name system for gifts. This year the kids' Uncle Jamie has us. He called me a while back to ask what to get for the kids. I told him to get them a game that they could play together. Well, not only did he listen, but he went above and beyond by getting them not just ONE game, but THREE games, a puzzle map of the United States, and a magnetic chalk/white board with numbers and letters! WOW! Thanks Uncle Jamie!

Right away Hungry Hippos was a big hit. Even my two year old loves it. One of the games is a version of Cranium for Kids. That's a hit with my older kids. I love that they are doing something together, cooperating, and even getting along for the most part. Plus the games (minus Hungry Hippos) are all in some way educational.

I'm so glad that Jamie listened. The games give them something to do TOGETHER besides play the Wii, or Playstation. I limit their time on those. In fact, we've incorporated a system recently where they have to read first, in order to earn their time on the Playstation, Wii, or computer. I'm still working out the details, but I like the idea of encouraging reading. Our kids love to read anyway, but we took it a step farther and have them writing about what they read. Just a short sentence or two about their favorite part, or the characters of the story, or the setting. I think I might even get them each their own notebook to keep track, like a journal.

Yes, there is lots of excitement happening here at our house. It seems like the winter stir-crazies (can I make up my own word?) have been forgotten for now. : )

Christmas Memory and Lots of Snow

Well, Christmas is over. It seemed to come and go all too quickly this year. We've already taken down the decorations and reclaimed the house for our second round of company that is coming out for New Year's. Yet, the true spirit and reason we celebrate Christmas will remain.

My DH and I have been trying to teach our children that it isn't about the presents, or the decorations. On Christmas Eve he read the story of Christ, and we talked about it as a family. We discussed the wise men, and the shepherds, and the celebration of Baby Jesus being born. That was my favorite time this Christmas. That is the memory I will hold dear to my heart as we bring in the new year.

I didn't get cards sent out on time this year because I couldn't make it to the store to pick them up! I think I'll still send them anyway. I'll throw in a newsletter and thank you notes for gifts. In fact, I didn't get a lot done this year because of the snow. I'm still trying to remain positive, because it's still snowing, and it's causing both the kids and me to go stir crazy. I don't know what I'll do if they don't end up going back to school next week!

My DH has been such a help with all the snow and around the house. We got the flu two days before Christmas and the last kid was still throwing up Christmas day. This time I managed to get sick too, and it really knocked me out. It was so discouraging. Despite me being a total grump, DH put up with me, and did what he could to make things easier on me. We spent all this morning working on the house together, preparing for company. I don't know what I would ever do without him! He even shoveled and bailed out the van when I got stuck in the driveway after taking the kids to the doctor this morning!

Well, I'm off to finish the laundry and mop the kitchen. I hope everyone out there that reads this blog had a wonderful Christmas. May the spirit of Christmas stay with you throughout the year. : )